Palmerston North: The City of Roses (Dugald Mackenzie Rose Garden)

With a population just over 80K and covering an area of 336 square kilometers, my gorgeous little hometown of Palmerston North, New Zealand can be considered pretty tiny by global comparisons.

However, this little city has earned itself a number of titles. It is known as the ‘Knowledge City’ of New Zealand, given the number of highly reputable educational institutions it houses for its size (the biggest, and oldest campus being Massey University from where I proudly earned my three tertiary degrees in Marketing).

Palmerston North is also known as the ‘City of Roses’ owing to its very well-loved Dugald Mackenzie Rose Garden.

Palmerston-North-Rose garden

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The Purest Form of Love

Last Friday we bid a teary farewell to my beloved father. No one ever told me how painful it would be to lose a parent. I feel like my heart has been ripped out raw from my rib-cage.

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When he was diagnosed with lymphoma nearly two years ago, I had no idea what that meant. A Google search linked it to the dreaded ‘C’ word. Lymphoma is a form of cancer that progressively takes over the lymph system, and brings immunity to a faltering halt.

A father is every girl’s very first hero, and mine was a true warrior. He battled with the cancer with unfailing optimism, and even in the dreariest of days, his faith in the Almighty remained rock-solid.

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Tezzy’s DIY Multi-Purpose Beauty Balm Recipe (Only 2 Ingredients)

I’m travelling home to New Zealand, and the direct flight from Dubai will take me just over 18 hours in a compressed, air-conditioner thawed plane. This really sets the scene for dry, dehydrated skin. To avoid the all too common ‘jet-lagged’ look, keeping the skin well moisturized, and staying hydrated is key.

I decided to whip up my very own, all-natural, multi-purpose beauty balm for the journey. Why tow along a whole heap of products when you can make do with just one multitasking jar of goodness that you can proudly DIY yourself?

Best of all, this Beauty Balm takes under 10 minutes to create, and you only need 2 easy-to-find ingredients. Read on for the recipe! 

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Dusty’s: New Foodie On The Block

Dusty’s is DIFC’s ‘newest kid on the block’. Conceptualized and created by the very talented young foodie Dusty Tourani, the self-named gastro-bar is a compilation of his favorite dishes from around the globe.

Dusty's by Dusty Tourani DIFC Dubai food review (27)
Dusty’s Est 1988 actually opened its doors in June 2015. 1988 is Dusty Tourani’s year of birth 🙂

 

Born in Singapore to Indian socialite couple Mahesh and Rekha Tourani, Dusty is an amalgamation of many foodie influences. After completing high-school in Dubai, Dusty moved to the States. He was studying in the East Coast, and his brother was on the West. The two would meet up midway in New York, and this opened up a whole new world of gastronomic experiences to Dusty.

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Wall Street Exchange & Ministry of Health Blood Drive: Why Donating Blood is a Win-Win Deal

For the second year running, Wall Street Exchange (UAE’s leading money exchange provider and member of the Emirates Post Group) has been teaming up with the Municipality of Health to encourage residents to donate blood.2a9f12cd9242c4d4ec6049c41788487a.jpg

The blood drive takes place 3 times a year, and the next one is scheduled for this Wednesday 27th January at the Wall Street Exchange branch in Karama (next to the Central Post Office). Blood donations will be carried out from 10 am till 3 pm, and is open to the general public.

Why should you donate blood? Did you know giving blood is just as beneficial for the donor as it is for the receiver? Read on for more.

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#TFNoFilter Selfie Powders Reviewed

I’m a sucker for pretty packaging, and when I saw this adorably cute palette by Too Faced dedicated to #selfies, there was no stopping me from getting it.

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I can’t help admiring Too Faced. They sure know how to wring the wallet dry with all their cuteness, and here they are taking absolute advantage of this generation’s biggest obsession, the perfect selfie!

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Tresind: Quintessentially Indian Molecular Gastronomy

If I were to sum up my experience at Tresind in one single word, it would have to be ‘magical‘. Ofcourse we’ve heard about the restaurant’s take on molecular gastronomy, but the theatrical brilliance of Tresind had us totally spellbound.

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The name ‘Tresind’ is a summation of two parts; ‘Tres’ from French meaning ‘very’, and ‘Ind’ for India. Despite all the chemistry that has gone into making Tresind an institution on molecular gastronomy, all the dishes we had the pleasure of trying stayed true to the original culinary flavors of Indian cuisine.

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Lunching with Chef Kunal Kapur (Patiala, Dubai)

Patiala, the contemporary fine-dining restaurant located in Souk Al Bahar has to be one of my favorite joints for Indian cuisine in Dubai. And what beats dining at Patiala? Dining at Patiala with celebrity Chef Kunal Kapur himself ofcourse! Chef Kunal Kapur Interview Patiala Dubai on The Tezzy Files food and lifestyle blog

Based out of India, Chef Kunal took over Patiala Dubai, and does regular visits to ensure his newly revamped menu stays topnotch.

Despite his celebrity status, and becoming the face of Master Chef India, Chef Kunal is every bit the humble, jovial boy next door.

He walked in 20 minutes late, and is all apologetic. He’s had a late night, and been up early for kitchen rounds. I see he’s wearing a FitBit and jokingly ask if that is his secret of keeping in shape. Chef Kunal nods in agreement. Being a Chef, exercise is all the more important to him, and he incorporates walking into his daily routine where ever possible. Chef Kunal aims for 6 km a day, and has actually walked up to Patiala from his Sheikh Zayed rented apartment to see us.

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Tezzy in Abu Dhabi Week (On Strobing)

When I got asked to share beauty tips with Abu Dhabi Week, I was beyond flattered. Abu Dhabi Week is undoubtedly the most widely read weekly in the capital, and to get featured here alongside well-known local beauty celebrities is an honor indeed.

I talked to Abu Dhabi Week about Strobing (you can read more on this in my earlier blog post). Here’s the feature in Abu Dhabi Week (17-23 Jan, 2016):

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Thank-you for the coverage Abu Dhabi Week!

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